Tsunani: A Tale of Woe
The world’s biggest earthquake in 40 years hit southern Asia on December 26 unleashing a tsunami that crashed into Sri Lanka and India, drowning thousands and swamping tourist isles in Thailand and the Maldives killing thousands of people. The tidal waves had an impact on Goa’s shores too towards midnight with the touristy beaches of Palolem and Patnem in South Goa being the worst affected areas. The surging waters kept fishermen, trawler-owners and shack owners awake. The terror-stricken villagers in Patnem, Colomb, Talpona and Palolem stretches vacated their houses and fled to safety, some even climbing hillocks and at the KTC bus stand after the sea level rose dangerously, sweeping the shacks and other structures on the beaches. Nearly 100 trawlers were in deep sea but fortunately they came ashore safely. Dr Satish Shetye from the National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, pointed out that the event took place at 6.30 am IST when the strong shallow earthquake measuring around 8.5 to 8.9 on the Richter scale hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The river water level rose at around 2.30 pm and gushed into the residence of Air Force Officer Sq Ldr Oswald de Abreu, which is on the banks of the river Mandovi at Betim knocking off the right hand side of the compound wall collapsed. The chairs which were kept on the verandah were also washed away. The government has announced an amount of Rs.50 lakh as aid for the victims of Tsunami disaster. Several others institutions and daily newspapers have begun raising funds for the relief of the tsunami victims. Goan artist Yolanda de Souza has put up two of her works for auction, at Art Chamber at Gauravaddo, Calangute, the amounts of which will be donated to tsunami victims.

Exposition Ends
Thousands of devotees tried to catch a last glimpse of St Francis Xavier as his sacred relics were carried in a ceremonial procession from the Se Cathedral to their resting place in the Basilica of Bom Jesus on January 2. The devotees stood rapt in prayerful attention, a few had tears in their eyes while others bowed in reverence as the representatives of the deaneries carried the relics in turn. After an eventful 43-day period, in which over 22 lakh of pilgrims of different faiths from all over the world venerated the relics, the 16th Exposition came to an end after the simple but touching ceremony, which lasted nearly four hours. For the organizers and volunteers, what seemed like an insurmountable task three months ago, went of peacefully. And for all the pilgrims and devotees the magic of seeing Goencho Saib wiped out all the hardships of standing in the sun and in long queues. Churches sources at Old Goa claimed that the Exposition was a total success “as it was geared to deepen the faith of our people. The response was manifested in the large attendance during the masses and the veneration.” At least 1,000 priests attended and celebrated masses in different languages during the 43-day event. People stood up in queues from one hour to four hours for the veneration of the Sacred Relics.

Goa A Safe Destination
While the Tsunami disaster wreaked havoc on the industries of popular destinations like Thailand and Lanka, foreign tour operators are looking to Goa as an alternative. While an estimated 200 foreigners were killed in Sri Lanka alone, similar figures were projected from Thailand, another popular charter tourist destination, which receives several times the volume of tourists that Goa receives. As tourists in those countries struggle to return home, cancellations are expected to severely affect their tourism industries. In an attempt to minimize loses, travel companies are looking to offer Goa as an alternative destination. But it has placed the State in a piquant situation as there are not enough rooms to offer. There were charter flights from Holland and Belgium that landed both at Goa and Thailand. “They wanted to know if they could offer Goa instead of Thailand as an alternative destination,” says travel and Tourism Association of Goa vice president Ralph de Souza.

Agony of Pilar Fathers
“No parish and no church remains. All churches, schools, convents in Nicobar Island have been washed off completely. In Car Nicobar, there is even no evidence of the church foundation. It is so bad….We are looking after five parishes, plus our own house. We had 13 priests posted there, and thanks to God, all are safe. In fact, all religious working in Andaman and Nicobar, including the Salesians and Jesuits are safe. The news about the havoc wrecked on the islands must have been devastating. Since we were closely associated, it came as a great shock to us. The Society of Pilar is weeping with the people of Andaman and Nicobar islands,” Fr Tony Lopes, Superior General of Pilar Society. Fr Tony Lopes, has informed that their thrust is now on to provide relief and evacuate people from the affected islands. The 576 islands forming the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was radically impacted by a December 26 undersea earthquake 160 kms off the coast of Indonesia. The Society of Pilar has floated a relief fund for those affected by the Tsunami tidal waves. Superior Fr Tony Lopes has appealed to the people of Goa to donate generously to the fund which would be used only for the rehabilitation of those in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Contributions by cheque, faovuring 'Society of Pilar', could be sent to the Society of Pilar, Pilar Deepti Sadan, Institutional Zone, PO Alto Porvorim, Bardez, Goa.
The Pilar Fathers who have been working for over four decades in Andaman and Nicobar had harrowing tales to tell about the tsunami. Miraculously all the Fathers were safe. As the monster struck, Fr Pritam Toppos’ church, presbytery and all the tiny houses around disappeared in seconds. News has reached he is safe but there is no direct communication yet. A nun from the place working in Port Blair lost her entire family in the bus. Fr Anuj Kumar, another Pilar priest, was on the worst-hit Car Nicobar island where nearly half the population of 30,000 has been wiped out. His tiny church was by the side of the government guest house. Both have disappeared. An emotionally distraught Bishop Alex Dias had no words to describe the situation as his room was rocked and everything thrown about. Forty years, two Pilar Fathers, Fr Tiburcio Ferrao and Fr Mariano Dias, stepped on the shores of these beautiful islands. Ever since it has been a love story of every Pilar Father and the exquisite islands.

The NRI Convention
	Chairman of NRI Goan Facilitation Centre Chandrakant Keni had appealed to Goans to participate in the Gomant Vishwa Sammelan, a convention of worldwide Goans, to avail of the opportunity to establish contact and promote cooperation with their brethren living beyond Goa. The three-day event began at Kala Academy Complex on 3 January 2005 and concluded on 5th afternoon.
There was a clarion call for Goa’s emerging identity to breakaway from its stereotypic form and to face new challenges posed to it in the global world. While delegates at the Gomant Vishwa Sammelan have admitted that the sea, sun, food and fun are synonymous with Goa’s identity, the State has much more to offer Goans and those visiting Goa as a tourist destination. NDTV’s Managing Editor, Rajdeep Sardesai, felt that Goa’s post card images are not what makes Goa’s identity. He regretted that Goa being a small state was not on the country’s news map except for being a politically unstable state.
He said, “It (Goa) should see its identity in futuristic terms rather than on the identity of the past.” Dr Armida Fernandes, ex-Dean of Sion Medical College, Mumbai, said that Goa could embark on promoting medical tourism as another avenue for tourists visiting the state. Edgar Rebeiro, Architect and ex-Chief Town Planner of Goa, impressed upon the need for conserving the best of what Goa is popular for, its forest, heritage and resources. “The NRGs and NRIs should take Vishwa Sammelan as an opportunity to renew links with their motherland and kith and kin, and play a greater ole in brining prosperity to their home land,” said Governor SC Jamir after inaugurating the Sammelan. The programme took off with a thougth provoking audio-visual presentation by Dr Nandakumar Kamat on the ‘Cultural History of Goa’. Dr Kamat put into the right perspective the symbiosis between the Hindu and Catholic communities. Also highlighted was the positive contribution of the Portuguese to Goa. Art and Culture Minister Ramrao Dessai announced that Goa’s cultural policy would be released soon. The session on ‘Emerging Identity of Goa’ had speakers Dr Armida Fernandes, Dr Edgar Rebeiro and Rajdeep Sardessai discussing health, planning and the futuristic image that Goa should project respectively. In the third session on “Expectations/Concerns of NRIs/NRGs, the NRIs poured forth their grievances which included redtapism, fleecing by taxis and restaurants, demand for direct flights from Qatar, visas for staying in Goa for longer periods, etc. The State government announced to the convention of Non-Resident Goans and Non-Resident Indians that it has plans to restructure its water supply and sanitation strategies and that the plans would be unveiled in another three months. Restoration of voting rights, security for investments and property, issuance of dual citizenship certificate and reservations for NRI children in professional institutions in Goa were some of the concerns raised by the Goa NRIs. Most of the NRIs who spoke during the post-lunch session expressed their will to contribute to the betterment of the State by using their expertise and ideas that can help to improve the industry and commerce of the State. However, they expressed their concern over security of investment and questioned as to what the government will do in return.

Welcome 2005
Goans bid adieu to year 2004 with gaiety and prayers for a prosperous year 2005 for both the State and its people. Goa heaved a sigh that the tsunami killer quake spared the State but expressed her shock and sorrow at the shocking trail of loss to life and property left behind by the disaster. At every Goan church prayers were offered for the victims. However, this did not deter thousands of domestic tourist and many foreigners descending on the coastal belt of Goa, particularly in North Goa, to the New Year eve parties which extended till the early hours of Saturday morning. There was also a mega rush of tourists, mostly domestic, to the Old Goa Church complex as the Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier concludes on January 1, 2005. It was a mix of emotions, some were glad to have made it so far, some were upset because they felt they could have done better, while others were just relieved it was all over. The clock stopped at 03.15 setting a new world record in Goa for the world’s longest dance party. The glam brigade was in Goa…tinsel-town starlets, businessmen and politicians. At the Radisson White Sands Resort, on December 28, a 65-hour long party began, to break the Guinness Record.

“Instant Goan”
	Fashion designer Wendell Rodricks released “How to be an Instant Goan”, a book authored by Goan columnist and journalist Valentino Fernandes, at an impressive function held at the Broadway Book Centre, St Inez, last week. Adv Norma Alvares and popular cartoonist Alexyz were present. Wendell praised Valentino for publishing the book and hoped that the esteemed Goan readers would enjoy reading the book.
Norma Alvares said the author was a Goan at heart and the book makes delightful reading about Goans in different parts of the world and their way of living. The book is illustrated by popular cartoonist Alexyz and is an ‘indispensable guide for everyone who aspires to be a Goan at heart’. The 150-page book is designed and printed by Diamond Publications, Panaji, and is priced at Rs.150. The programme began with a guitar recital by Rui Lobo of the Goa Guitar Guild. Alexyz welcome the gathering and Valentino Fernandes proposed a vote of thanks.

Concerned citizens want withdrawal of CD
What was the intention of the present BJP government to screen the documentary "Goa Freedom Struggle" to young school children? Was it to teach the history of Goa or to spread the ideology of hate? Was it to unite the communities or to divide them along communal lies? These were the most repeatedly asked questions by some scholars and concerned citizens gathered on January 6 to view the documentary at the Xavier Centre for Historical Research wherein the overwhelming consensus was the government should withdraw the documentary and destroy it. The government script committee member, Mr Flaviano Dias, who was present for the screening, drew much flak from the audience that wanted to know how the committee okayed the film despite the glaring errors.